ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Tuesday vowed to take firm action against those involved in hoarding of fertilizer and creating its artificial shortage.
Addressing a news conference along with Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, Minister for Power Muhammad Ali and the Secretary Ministry for Industries and Production, he said the chief secretaries and the Inspector Generals Police have been given the deadline of twenty four hours to implement the administrative measures.
He said there is a clear directive from the Prime Minister not to show any leniency towards such mafias. Additionally, he assured that there is no shortage of fertilizer, affirming that the commodity will reach the doorsteps of growers. He said the subsidy being given on the fertilizer is not meant for factories or the middlemen but the growers.
The Interior Minister said the Ministry of Industries and Production is also holding talks with the fertilizer factories in order to ensure smooth supply of fertilizer. In his remarks, Minister for Power Muhammad Ali said the government has decided that the fertilizer plants will remain open during the entire winter season to ensure maximum local production of fertilizer. He said at present the fertilizer plants are operating at full capacity.
The Secretary Ministry of Industries and Production stated that the government has taken timely measures for the availability of Urea. He said in addition to the local production, two hundred and twenty thousand metric tons of imported Urea will be available in the country by 15th of next month.
